Pak engineers, space scientists trained by China: Official

Beijing: China has trained a number of Pakistani engineers and scientists in the field of space technology, a senior Chinese official has said.

"Hundreds of space engineers and scientists from several countries including Pakistan and Nigeria have received training in China since 2005," LiLan, Deputy General Manager of the Communications Satellite Division of China Great Wall Industry Corp said.

China Great Wall Industry Corp is the country`s only commercial provider of international launch services and satellite in-orbit delivery.

Providing training for space professionals from developing economies was aimed at enhancing their capacity in satellite operations and space technology application, he said.

China and Pakistan share a long history of space technology cooperation.

Pakistan`s first low-orbit satellite, BADR-A, was launched by China in 1990.

Ahmed Bilal, chairman of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission recently said "If China starts taking foreign astronauts to outer space, we would like to be the first candidate," according to Pakistan’s state run APP news agency.

China launched a communications satellite PAKSAT-1R for Pakistan in August 2011.

The satellite was China`s first in-orbit delivery to Asian customers and also the first commercial satellite export to international users.